A G3/266 can run everything from Mac OS 8.1 to Mac OS X 10.2.8 Jaguar. (Maybe more if you hack it.) Originally, it came with OS 8.1 disks; if you didn't get them with the system, you'll have to find some.

also i have DL's the updates to 8.6 from download.com, hwo can i get them from my PC to my mac (ive tried using a CD, but my mac syas it cant find the file that made the .bin file, or somthing to that extent). what can i use to get these files to the mac also when i get it there how do i install it?

and if i find the 8.6 os disks how do i run them with this AT EASE 3.0 crap running?

I bought a G3 Blue & White off of eBay that was from a school, as well, and it also had the At East software on it. I just put in a Panther CD, booted up into the CD and reformatted the Hard Drive and installed Panther. Simple as that. 8.x was cryptic as heck anyway. I LOVE Panther. lol By the way, I'm also a long-time PC user. I am now currently in the process of completely switching over to Mac.

On another note, kind of OT, I went by a relative's house this weekend and picked up a Gigabit Ethernet G4 with Dual 450MHz Processors. So, I'm a happy camper. :p lol